Page 46 of Play With Me

“You’re a great detective, Anders,” Carmela tries to placate me.

“Am I, though?” I shake her off gently and stand, walking across the room. “Because it’s the same shit all over again, Carmela. Ironic that the first case I work after that ends up beingthis.”

“I can see why you’d think that, Anders. But there’s really no parallel here. I’m sorry for what happened with Mariana. I really, really am.” She appears in front of me. Her fingers are warm when they wrap around my biceps, and she pushes me back to the sofa. “But that is not our reality here. You’re not undercover. I’m not being forced to do anything I don’t want to do, and I’m not forcing anyone else to do things they don’t want to, either. You’ve spent enough time at Désirer to know it’s not even close to the same thing. Everyone is there because they want to be.”

She guides me to sit. When she goes to settle beside me, I grab her hips and pull her down to straddle me. “Don’t you think I know that by now?” I cup her neck, threading my fingers through her hair. “Facts are still facts, though, Cara. You’re still involved with Mick, deeper than I realized. Then there’s Luca, and that situation hits close to being similar, given who his father is.” Our noses touch, her dark eyes fluttering closed as our breaths mingle. “And when you were attacked, I felt things I didn’t want to feel. Had to admit to myself that I wasbeginning to have feelings for you I didn’t want to have.”

“So romantic, please, keep going,” she deadpans as she opens her eyes, her gaze locking with mine. My lips curl into a smile. I tip my head slightly, brushing our lips together for the briefest of moments.

Subtly, she shifts her hips, but I feel the movement deep in my groin, my cock coming to life beneath her. Just like that first night I fingered her in front of everyone, I reach around and press on the base of her tailbone, pushing her into me as I lift my hips to match hers. “And I think you feel it too, don’t you? We don’t hate each other as much as we’ve been letting on. In fact, the only thing I hate lately when it comes to you, is the fact that throughout this entire charade, I haven’t taken the chance to sink my cock back into you.”

She lets out a low moan mixed with a breathy gasp as I tilt my hips just right, my rigid cock hitting her clit through our jeans. I swallow it with a kiss, trapping her lower lip between my teeth before telling her, “I’m not going to fuck you where we have to be quiet, though, Cara. The next time I’m inside you, I want you screaming so loud everyone can hear it.”

Her lips crash against mine as she picks up the pace and begins to ride me. We’re like horny teenagers, dry humping each other while makingout, desperate to chase our release before someone catches us.

However, the only people here to walk in on us are upstairs, fast asleep. Yet, there’s something about fucking each other through our clothes that is insanely fucking hot, and I don’t want to stop. The next time we have sex, I want it to be the right way, on a bed, and preferably where we aren’t battling for control. I want Carmela sweet and sweaty beneath me as I make her come over and over around my cock.

“I’m going to come,” she whispers against my lips.

“Yeah, baby? Go ahead and take what you need from me. I wanna watch you fall apart.”

And what a glorious sight it is. Head tipped back, mouth open in a silent cry as she comes. I follow her over the edge, silently cursing as I make a mess in my pants, knowing I have nothing to change into.

Her tits heave in front of my face as she comes down from her high. I bite a nipple through her shirt as she slumps against me before moving us so we’re lying down, legs tangled and chests pressed together. Carmela snuggles into me, wrapping her arm around my waist.

“Cara?”

“Yeah?”

“I know there’s a lot we have to discuss, and I know it’s going to be messy, but Iwantto do it.”

Her arm tightens on my waist. I can feel the beat of her heart against mine, the two falling into a synchronized rhythm. “Even now that you know about Maya?”

Something surges in my chest. It’sprimordial—the need to protect and defend this woman who I’m starting to consider as mine. I can’t even fathom a reality where I leave, and we never see each other again.

I grasp her chin and tip her head back to make her look at me. “Yes, baby girl. I want you, motherhood and all.”

Tears line her eyes. “What about when this is all over? And you have to go back to California?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.” I kiss the top of her head.

More needs to be said, but tonight, I just want to feel her in my arms.

Because if there’s anything I know for sure, it’s that this is the calm before the storm.

The smell of bacon wakes me.

Voices filter through the doorway as I move to stretch, only to realize Carmela is still wrapped around me.

Footsteps enter the den, putting me on instant alert—too heavy to be Maya’s.

One hand flies to my gun holster while the other pulls Carmela closer.

“No need for that, Detective.” Mick’s voice reaches my ears as my eyes snap open to see him standing over us. He looks livid. My blood turns cold before the temperature rises to a raging boil.

Carmela stirs. “No, it’s too early. No pancakes yet,” she mumbles.

“Get up, Mellie,” Mick snaps, kicking the bottom of the couch to wake her. Carmela jolts awake, sitting up abruptly.

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